Cylinder Head Cleaning

[IanDMacDonald]

I want to do this right and not rush it. I have half the valves and valve seals out. A few questions on proper cleaning. I plan on submerging the head in a hot bath of Simple Green:

1. Mating surface: The head mating surface has some gasket material baked into it. After soaking, can I use a brass brush to remove it, or a gasket scraper only?
2. Cylinder bowls: Brass brush okay to remove carbon?
3. Valve stems: I read to NOT use any brushes, etc. on valve stems. No brass brush to remove carbon?
4. Valve guides: Can I use a brass wire pipe cleaner?

[jetmechmarty]

Paint stripper has proven effective at helping me remove old gasket material.

[IanDMacDonald]

Paint stripper has proven effective at helping me remove old gasket material.

It actually came right off with a pass of the gasket scraper. I'm soaking the head as we speak in a heated bath of Simple Green and water. I'll drop the valves in my ultra sonic cleaner to see if it'll beak-up the carbon deposits.

[Radioguylogs]

I used a brass wheel on a bench grinder to clean my valves. It worked well and did no damage to the valves. They came out like new. It did take a little patience.

After carefully removing the carbon and gasket residue from the head, jugs and pistons, I used a Dremel brass wheel for the final touch. It worked well and did no damage.

[DiverRay]

Make SURE you rinse the head VERY WELL!! Simple Green is very bad for aluminum. It's use in not allowed on aircraft.

[Bonz]

I would second a brass brush or even a brass brush attachment on a Dremel tool, they work great on aluminum brake caliper piston bores and grooves, cleaning the inside of brake and clutch master cylinders on different bikes.

[Bonz]

I would second a brass brush or a brass brush attachment on a Dremel tool, they work great on aluminum brake caliper piston bores and grooves, cleaning the inside of brake and clutch master cylinders on different bikes.

When I rebuilt the head on the ZRX, back of exhaust valves and stems were carboned up. The Dremel tool with a brass brush made short work of them.